Statement for State Senator Martin J. Golden on Mayor De Blasio’s Vision Zero Plan

Brooklyn, NY - Following the announcement of Mayor De Blasio’s Vision Zero Plan, State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) issued the following statement:

“I appreciate the commonality of interest in the Mayor’s plan and legislation that I have introduced. Vision Zero is a comprehensive plan that is an overall good first start for ensuring less pedestrian fatalities and reducing vehicular accidents overall.

“It is my belief that the best way to protect pedestrians is outlined clearly in my legislation: creating slow zones around schools, senior centers, parks and playgrounds, reducing the speed limit in these specific areas to 20 miles per hour, installing speed bumps, and increasing enforcement. Vision Zero is spot on where it calls for increased enforcement and increased education for drivers. The best way to prevent speeding is to enforce the speed limits.

“We must also remember that speeding isn’t the only factor in accidents and pedestrian fatalities. Distracted driving, failure to yield, and following too closely have outranked speeding as cause of accidents over the last 4 years. This has become a serious concern for all. Education and enforcement to prevent and correct these three issues is essential to any plan to increase safety. I look forward to working with Mayor De Blasio and his administration to make sure that all New York City streets are safe for drivers and pedestrians.”